Author
What’s Bev opinion about organized religion?
She says that organized religion was a tool men in power had invested to control people .
What is St-Joseph’s Mission Residential School in Williams Lake?
This is the name of the residential school located in Williams Lake, British Columbia, where Bev Sellars, her mother and grandmother were both sent. The school, run by the Catholic Church, was notorious for its abusive conditions, where Indigenous children were stripped of their culture and language, a traumatic experience that influenced Sellars’ understanding of her heritage and identity.
What punishment did a girl receive after throwing her food in the garbage?
She was forced to eat the food she had thrown out.
What does the term "Number One" symbolizes for Bev during her time in St-Joseph's Mission ?
It symbolizes the loss of identity and the dehumanization that Bev and other Indigenous children faced
Who is Bev Sellars?
Bev Sellars is the author and the main character of They Called Me Number One. She shares her experiences in residential schools and how it affected her life.
For what reason did Bev Sellars decided to go to university?
To prove she can succeed despite her past.
Why Bev couldn’t go to the Expo 67 in Montreal? And Was it good for her?
Bev couldn’t go to Expo 67 in Montreal because the band was expected to walk about five miles in the parade, and they believed she wasn’t strong enough to carry the drum for that distance. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing for her, as Father O’Connor sexually assaulted some of the girls during the trip,something Bev was fortunate to avoid.
What is one of the first things that happens to Bev Sellars when she arrives at St.Joseph’s Mission?
Her hair is cut short, and she is stripped of her clothes and belongings, symbolizing the beginning of the school's effort to erase her identity and culture.
How did the Elvis Presley movie impact the narrator's perception of her identity as an Indigenous person?
The Elvis Presley movie deeply affected the narrator's perception of her identity as an Indigenous person by reinforcing the negative messages she had received about her worth. Hearing a celebrity she admired say, "I'd rather kiss a dog than an Indian," felt like a personal attack, making her feel ashamed of her heritage. Since the media played a big role in shaping her worldview, this moment intensified her internalized racism, further ingraining the belief that being Indian was something to be ashamed of. This experience, combined with the negative portrayal of Indigenous people in western movies and the idealized depiction of White families on TV, contributed to her feelings of inferiority.
What did Bev’s parents suffer from that led them to time in jail?
Suffering from alcoholism
How did the author's suicide attempt reflect the emotional toll of her abusive relationship and past trauma?
The author's suicide attempt reflected the deep emotional pain caused by her abusive relationship with Dayton and the unresolved trauma from her time at the Mission. The years of physical and emotional abuse had left her feeling powerless and unworthy, which made her see suicide as the only escape from her pain. The moment that triggered her attempt-learning about Dayton's affair--was the breaking point after years of suffering. Her suicide attempt was not just about Dayton's betrayal, but a culmination of lifelong emotional wounds and feelings of inadequacy reinforced by her traumatic past.
How does the narrator's view of residential schools change after becoming a parent?
The narrator's opinion about residential schools changes a lot after becoming a parent. As a child, they knew that Gram did not want to send them away, but they did not fully understand how painful it was for her. However, after having their own children, the narrator realizes how heartbreaking it must have been for parents and grandparents to lose their children. They understand that they would do anything to protect their own kids from being taken away. The narrator also sees why many parents felt guilty and used alcohol or drugs to deal with the pain. This shows that residential schools did not only hurt children but also caused deep suffering for families.
How did the events at the Williams Lake Stampede reflect the complex social tensions and cultural divisions between Native and White people?
The Williams Lake Stampede revealed the deep social and cultural divide between Native and White people. The fact that Native and White people camped on separate sides of the rodeo grounds shows how racial divisions were still present, even during a shared community event. Squaw Hall, which was originally built to exclude Native people from the White dance hall, represents this segregation. Even though some White people began attending Squaw Hall for the music and atmosphere, the hall became a chaotic place marked by heavy drinking and violence. The incident where two non-Native men attempted to abduct Margaret highlights how Native women were vulnerable and how the community's silence reflected the power imbalance. These events reflect the ongoing struggles for equality and safety faced by Native people in a society where racial tensions were still very present.
What does the "church" represent and how is it used as a colonial power ?
The church symbolizes the colonial and religious institutions that imposed their values on Indigenous children, aiming to erase their traditions and replace them with European religious beliefs and practices.
Why was Miss Costello important to the narrator?
Miss Costello was important to the narrator because she was kind and caring. Unlike other hospital workers, she made the children feel special and respected. She gave them comfort, especially when the narrator felt lonely without her family. She also did fun things like taking the kids on walks, which made the narrator feel happy and safe. That's why Miss Costello became very special to her. When she left without saying goodbye, the narrator felt very sad, showing how much she cared about her.
Why did Bev Sellars believe the more mediocre she was, the better?
At the residential schools, the kids had to be careful to not violate anyone’s turf or offend someone by appearing better than anyone else, because when other kids saw it as a « show off » they would punch each other, so she had to learn how to be invisible and to never be better than anyone else for her own safety.
How is the mandatory residential school to all the aboriginal kids related to the significant use of drugs and alcohol in their community?
The mandatory residential school to all the aboriginal kids came with consequences and a lot of pain to all of them. Such as having the kids of parents taken away without option and immense abuse to all of the students. This pain created made people ease their pain and guilt with drugs or booze, just like we see on this chapter.
What did Bev’s Gram do to prevent her from urinating in bed at the residential school?
Gram would make her go to the bathroom before she went to bed, she limited the water Bev drank in the evening, and then she would fix her bed to ensure that only her sheets got wet.
What does the red paint on the children's faces represent during their time at St-Joseph's Mission ?
The red paint symbolizes the attempt to erase their Indigenous identity and the forced imposition of European ways of life, as well as the trauma and dehumanization experienced by the children.
Why did Bev Sellars’ mom always make sure any kids in the house had extra blankets?
During the years her mom was at the Mission, when the weather turned cold in the winter, the Oblates had a hard time heating the building and often the dormitory would be few degrees below freezing during the night, so she knew how awful it was to be cold at night.
What are 2 things that Bev deeply regret?
Bev deeply regrets raising her children “Mission style,” using spanking and expecting them to hide their emotions. She now sees that this emotionally hurt them. She also regrets forcing them to behave a certain way around White people to avoid judgment, realizing now how harmful those pressures were.
Name two horrific actions that kids suffered that shows how the people at the Mission didn’t have any sympathy with the kids.
1-The kids felt hungry all the time and they were given such a horrible food that even one member of Bev community said “ you wouldn’t give to your dog”
2-Bev sister, Dolly, once broke her leg while out on a walk and she received no medical treatment and no cast.
What event led Bev Sellars to begin fully confronting and processing the long-term effects of her experience at St.Joseph’s Mission, eventually motivating her to speak out and write this book?
The turning point came when Bev suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized. This event forced her to confront the trauma of her residential school experience, prompting a journey of healing and ultimately inspiring her to share her story through this memoir.
How does the symbol of "Water" relate to the author's journey towards healing and reclaiming her identity ?
Water symbolizes the cleansing and the flow of emotional and spiritual healing, representing the author's return to her roots and the reclamation of her Indigenous identity after the trauma of the residential school system.
Why was Bev Sellars’ grandmother‘s mom special to many people?
Bev Sellars‘ grandmother‘s mom knew all the Aboriginal medicines and would often be called when people were sick, so she could help them.